Rocks in the Forest c. 1890s

Paul Cézanne painted this oil on canvas, Rocks in the Forest, during the late 19th century in France, a period of immense social and artistic transformation. Cézanne, like many artists of his time, was grappling with the rapid industrialization and urbanization that was reshaping French society, which is visible in the painting's subject: untouched nature. The use of color and form, breaking away from traditional academic styles, reflects a broader questioning of established norms and values. Art institutions of the time, like the Salon, were powerful gatekeepers, and Cézanne's rejection of their standards was a progressive act. To fully appreciate Cézanne's work, one might delve into exhibition reviews from the time, or the correspondence between the artist and his contemporaries. This painting reminds us that art is always embedded in the social, political, and institutional contexts of its making.